Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant Spotlight: Emma Kenny

Applying and preparing for an opportunity like a Fulbright Scholarship can be a nerve-wracking experience. To ease your mind and provide you with an insider’s look into the Fulbright experience as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Kosovo, we decided to catch up with our U.S. Fulbright community. We asked them to reflect on their Fulbright experience in Kosovo and answer a few insightful questions, from preparing their applications to what it was really like living and being engaged in Kosovo as an ETA.

We’re continuing our series of questions with 2023-2024 grantee Emma Kenny, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History with a concentration in Legal History from the University of Alabama (UA). She spent an academic year as an ETA at the University of Prizren “Ukshin Hoti.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers Study/Research Awards to recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals. These awards allow grantees to design their projects, which typically involve working with advisers at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education, including here in Kosovo.

More info here: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/types-of-awards/study-research

What is your educational and professional background?

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History with a concentration in U.S. Legal History. Professionally, I have interned in my state’s governor’s office, the U.S. Senate, and for the Andrew Goodman Foundation, which is a voting rights nonprofit.

Why did you choose to apply for the Fulbright Program?

I chose to apply to Fulbright because I wanted to make a difference in the global community. I knew that the experience I would gain as a Fulbrighter would help me work toward such big goals, providing me with the skills and perspectives necessary to contribute effectively.

Could you tell us about your experience as a Fulbrighter in Kosovo?

Being a Fulbrighter in Kosovo has truly been an unbelievable experience. Before coming to Kosovo, I had only heard about it through my mom, who was in KFOR, and from history books, so I did not have any first-hand experience. Having now lived here for almost a year, I can say that not only has the country made me a better person, but the people here have as well. I was greeted with open arms by my community, and whenever I needed anything, I knew there was always someone willing to lend a helping hand. I was able to create lasting bonds with my students at my university, the American Corner, and my friends from my local café. Kosovo has made me a more relaxed person; it has allowed me to enjoy the little things in life, like the infamous large macchiato (in Albanian ‘makiato e madhe’), and Prizren specifically has opened me to a whole new world of culture and religion.

What is the most valuable component you have gained from the program? 

The most valuable component of this program has been what my students have taught me. It's funny, my role in the community is to be the teacher, yet my students are teaching me new things every day. I find this to be a privilege because it allowed me to get closer to my community while they shared the things they are most proud of from their culture. Every day when I came into the classroom, having learned a new Albanian phrase or word, I could see the connections being made between my students and me. I cannot choose an isolated component to assign the most value to because it was the community and the people that made each part of this program valuable. 

How do you plan to implement the knowledge gained as a part of the program after you return to the U.S.?

For now, I am heading to Trinity College Dublin for a Master of Philosophy in International Peace Studies with the goal of joining the U.S. Foreign Service. I plan to not only use these experiences in Kosovo in my future studies but also in my future career when interacting with similar communities and countries.

How was the application process for you, and what advice do you have for prospective candidates?

The application process was extensive but worth the work I put into it. I worked with various mentors in my life to ensure I was approaching the application the best way I could. I also worked with my university’s international scholarship office, which is there to specifically help you apply to programs like Fulbright. With their help, I was able to bounce ideas off someone who had done a Fulbright themselves. I also think that it is really important to make sure your application tells the narrative of who you are and why you want to do a Fulbright. 

What is the biggest culture shock you experienced during your time in Kosovo?

For me, it was the difference in the planning culture compared to the U.S. Americans typically plan meetings with work, friends, or just about anything at least a week or longer in advance, so when I moved here and tried to do that, it did not work out so well. When I finally accepted that I did not need to plan everything so far ahead of time, I became a lot more relaxed. Life got much easier for me in the country when I decided to just take things day by day.

What is your favorite place you have visited in Kosovo while participating in the Fulbright program?

Prizren is definitely my favorite place in Kosovo. I do live here, so I know that I am a little bit biased, but the city is so rich in culture and history that it is hard not to love it.

The people have been more than welcoming, and the food is the best!

What is your favorite Kosovar dish/food?

Speca me gjize, mantia, and anything cooked in a tava are my favorites. It is hard to pick, though, because everything I have eaten has been amazing!